Life ~ Stage
Here I am welcoming the crowd at the Portland Media Center, recent shows have attracted full houses!
Every First Friday I have the distinct honor of performing as part of the Playback ensemble, The Teller’s Garden, at the Portland Media Center in Portland, Maine. These shows are open to the public and each night is unique. We never know who will be there, who will raise their hand to tell a true story, or what the story will be. It is truly Life that comes on stage at the Teller’s Garden! Our job as improvisers is to honor the audience members’ true stories, to highlight the universal, to touch the emotional core of the teller’s experience, to heighten and express the ways in which we all relate to one another’s experiences as humans.
The skills I have learned over the 17 years I’ve been performing playback serve me daily in my life. Skills such as:
empathic listening
paying attention to the emotions conveyed in someone’s telling—verbally and non-verbally
listening for the heart
getting to the core of their story: why this story? why now?
using metaphor to connect ideas and convey truths and correspondences in the experiences shared
trusting the body on stage to bring meaning and inspire language
trusting my fellow improvisers, accepting offers, saying ‘yes, and’ to what’s unfolding
trusting my own voice, leaning in to the present and allowing energy to flow
being a channel for something greater and non-personal to express
If you’re curious about how you can learn these skills or practice and improve these skills, I invite you to join me on the 10th of each month for an hour of improvisation over Zoom. You can learn more here, and register for free over zoom below…
When we voluntarily open ourselves up to the newness of situations and creative challenges, we see how our imaginations and creativity grow in response. These monthly online sessions are just that: safe spaces in which to take risks and explore the creative edge together. Join me!
